Terran's Tips

There are many times when trees must be removed, that is the nature of our business. Removal maybe required due to disease; consequences of storm damage, improper placement many years ago or potential damage to driveways, foundations, and walkways. When that happens many times clients want a tree to replace the loss, and when I visit clients on a daily basis there are many questions that are asked regularly. When is the best time to plant trees, is a very common and popular question. The answ... Read More

Firewood is rated as Hardwood or Softwood. Hardwoods tend to give more heat and less smoke in a long, hot burn; which equates to less Creosote, the culprit in many chimney fires. But if you enjoy cutting Firewood and loading the Wood Burner, or if you want to warm up the house in a hurry; then Softwoods may be just right for you. It may be best to cut Firewood when the trees have shed their leaves. Chances are that the sap has migrated down from the trunk and limbs. That should make it light... Read More

Trees provide significant benefits to our homes and cities, but when trees fall and injure people or damage property, they become liabilities. Taking care of tree hazards makes your property safer and prolongs the life of the tree. It is an owner’s responsibility to provide for the safety of trees on his/ her property. However, evaluating the seriousness of these defects is best done by a professional arborist. Regular tree care will help identify hazardous trees and the risk t... Read More

As Memphis continues to grow Eastward many homeowners and builders are choosing larger wooded lots for their home sites. In fact, many new developments are upwards of 4 acres per home and this can cause a maintenance issue when we are trying to have a natural yet maintained look on our properties. Mulching head units are the perfect answer for this situation. This type of service can provide a clean look while leaving all organic material in place thus reducing erosion risk and t... Read More

This month, I thought you might enjoy reading some interesting facts about trees. General Facts About Trees Trees keep our air supply fresh by absorbing carbon dioxide and producing oxygen. In one year, an acre of trees can absorb as much carbon as is produced by a car driven up to 8700 miles. Trees provide shade and shelter, reducing yearly heating and cooling costs by 2.1 billion dollars. Trees lower air temperature by evaporating water in their leaves. The average tree in metropoli... Read More

  Have you ever noticed the leaves on Bradford pears turning a bronze or brown color? This bronzing is followed by dead tissue forming in the tree. This disease is Fire Blight, a bacterial disease which can severely damage apples and pears. Bradford pears are one of the most common landscape trees found in this area. Unfortunately, they are not without problems. This year with the high humidity and early rainfall, we have expe... Read More

In Memphis there are two landscape staples that we are all very familiar with….Azaleas and Crape Myrtles. Azaleas provide beautiful color in the spring along with the Dogwoods and the Crape Myrtles provide beauty as they bloom in the hot summer months. Proper pruning of these trees is a subject that I have been very anxious to write a tree tip about. I wanted to wait until July because this is the time of year that most Crape Myrtles are in bloom. ... Read More

September has given Memphis and the mid south a much needed break from record setting August temperatures and drought. It is a certainty every summer that we will have some level of drought and extreme heat which will require supplemental watering to our urban and landscape trees. Silent Suffering A tree’s first damage from drought occurs beneath the soil line in the form of root damage, long before any outward signs of trouble. A... Read More

  The summer storm season is here and as usual we see an increase in lightning strikes to trees and therefore have an increase in the number of calls dealing with this issue. Just recently I was at the Chickasaw Gardens Park assessing a large Water Oak that sustained a direct hit, and the morning that I wrote this article I observed two Sweet Gums with damage at an apartment complex. Lightning is Hard on Trees. Thou... Read More

Disputes over trees are a common cause of bad feeling between neighbors. Trees that block the sun, leaves which clog your guttering, roots that choke your drains and or damage your fences. Your differences can usually be settled with a combination of tact and compromise, but if you are forced to, legal action may be your only way out. That could cost you anywhere from hundreds to thousands of dollars and will most like... Read More

Severe ice storms occur every year in the United States, particularly in the Midwestern and eastern regions, resulting in millions of dollars in monetary losses. Tree species vary in their resistance to ice accumulation. Certain characteristics, such as “included” bark, dead and decaying branches, a broad crown, and fine branching, increase a tree’s susceptibility to ice storm damage. Planting trees resistant to ice storms and performing... Read More

One sure fire way to identify a reputable tree service is to check their advertising. Obviously you would look for insurance and references but it is vital and equally important to look for the level of education and training in the field of tree care. If their yellow page ad, business card, or vehicle signage mentions topping, it is time to be concerned. Topping is not an approved practice in modern day arboriculture or in any way conducive to a healthy tree. The picture at t... Read More

Branches of trees can break due to the excessive weight of ice or snow. Proper pruning encourages the formation of the strongest possible branches and branch attachments. When pruning alone isn’t enough, properly installed cables and rigid braces can add support to a weakened part of the tree. Winter winds cause evergreens to lose moisture from their needles. Even some deciduous trees suffer from winter drying. If water is not available... Read More

Our society seems to be steadily evolving toward an urban and suburban-oriented culture. As it does, those of us who love our plants and trees and who appreciate the multiple benefits that occur as we seek to live our lives among these bontanical benefactors are also becoming familiar with a new word popping up with increasing frequency in our gardening vocabularies. It’s the compound Greek word mycorrhizae, which means “fungus roots.” While the word may be still new to man... Read More

The best time to plant a tree is 20 years ago…the second best time is today. That being said there are many things to consider when planting trees as they are to be considered a long term investment. Trees are one of our most important landscape features. They beautify and enrich our lives throughout the year with their variety of forms, flowers, fruits, seasonal leaf colors, and bark interest. They provide oxygen and cooling shade, and they filter out some pollutants from the air. Tre... Read More

This winter, more than ever, I noticed a marked increase in the prevalence of ivy in our urban forest. Especially in many of the rental home areas. It's fair to say that the property owners may not visit the site regularly and the tenants probably don't care too much about the health of trees. There is also a high occurrence of homeowners who have ivy, mainly English ivy, which has enveloped the trunks and in many cases has been permitted to grow into the canopy of their trees. ... Read More

What is Core Aeration? Core Aeration is a process by which a machine (aerator) removes plugs, approximately 1” in diameter and 2-5” long, from the soil. Why Aerate? The answer is quite simple. It is without a doubt impossible to keep soil from at some point becoming compacted.        For the most part, everything that comes in contact with your turf has the ability to aid in its compaction.... Read More

On your property, insects and microorganisms abound. This is a natural and beneficial state, since insects and microorganisms are key components in nutrient recycling, decomposition, plant succession, natural pest control and wildlife habitat. A landscape with out insects and microorganisms would be a very unhealthy environment. A healthy property is a functioning ecosystem with young, mature, and even dead, downed trees. Please keep in mind th... Read More

Wooded lots are in high demand by people seeking home building sites. The price of a building lot with trees is usually much higher than one without, and buyers are willing to pay 5 to 10 percent, even up to 20 percent more for an existing home with trees. However, home construction can damage and even kill the much-desired trees, turning them into an economic liability. Please keep in mind that any home improvement project like adding a drainage system or... Read More

Protecting the existing trees begins when you plan your home. Select a building site that is large enough to accommodate your house and still allows room for undisturbed areas of trees. Small wooded lots are not practical. Many of the trees will have to be removed to make room for the house, and the remaining trees will be damaged by grading and other activities that go with home building. Trees vary in their ability to tolerate construction damage. Among the most sensitive are red oak, whit... Read More

Every autumn we revel in the beauty of the fall colors. The mixture of red, purple, orange and yellow is the result of chemical processes that take place in the tree as the seasons change from summer to winter. During the spring and summer the leaves have served as factories where most of the foods necessary for the tree's growth are manufactured. This food-making process takes place in the leaf in numerous cells containing chlorophyll, which gives the leaf its green color. This extraord... Read More

Pruning is the most common tree maintenance procedure. Although forest trees grow quite well with only nature's pruning, landscape trees require a higher level of care to maintain their safety and aesthetics. Pruning should be done with an understanding of how the tree responds to each cut. Improper pruning can cause damage that will last for the life of the tree, or worse, shorten the tree's life. Reasons for Pruning Since each cut h... Read More

Woodland Tree Service now has four certified arborists on staff, more than anyone else in Memphis, to help meet your tree needs. What Is a Certified Arborist? An arborist by definition is an individual who is trained in the art and science of planting, caring for, and maintaining individual trees. ISA arborist certification is a nongovernmental, voluntary process by which individuals can document their base of knowledge. It operates without mandate of law and is an internal, self-regulating... Read More

Almost everyone knows that trees and other living plants are valuable. They beautify our surroundings, purify our air, act as sound barriers, manufacture precious oxygen, and help us save energy through their cooling shade in summer and their wind reduction in winter. Many people don't realize, however, that plants have a dollar value of their own that can be measured by competent plant appraisers. If your trees or shrubs are damaged or de... Read More

Mulches are materials placed over the soil surface to maintain moisture and improve soil conditions. Mulching is one of the most beneficial things a home owner can do for the health of a tree. Mulch can reduce water loss from the soil, minimize weed competition, and improve soil structure. Properly applied, mulch can give landscapes a handsome, well-groomed appearance. Mulch must be applied properly; if it is too deep ... Read More

Hundreds of thousands of trees are planted along city and community streets and on other public property throughout the United States each year. Unfortunately, many of these trees, perhaps 50 percent or more, do not survive beyond one or two years. Why? Transplant Shock Most newly planted trees are subject to stress-related problems due to tremendous root loss when dug at the nursery. This condition, commonly called transplant shock, results in increased vulnerability to drought, insects, di... Read More

We’ve all seen thinning grass under large shade trees, large surface tree roots that cause safety hazards and mowing obstacles, young trees that don’t seem to grow, and tree trunks badly damaged by lawn mowers or string trimmers. All of these undesirable effects can be caused by trees and turf growing too closely together. Turfgrasses provide many of the same environmental benefits as trees. They change carbon dioxide into the oxygen we breathe cool the air by changing water ... Read More

The windstorm of the weekend of June 12 caused havoc, above and beyond raking leaves and downed sticks. Many trees were felled by the heavy rains and winds, and owners whose homes were damaged are concerned about the possibility of liability to their next-door neighbors, as well as who will bear the cost of removing the debris. The legal answer to these concerns is quite simple; however, the interpretation an... Read More

The Southern Pine bark beetle has been a relentless killer of Loblolly Pines in the midsouth. Every year we remove more and more trees that have been killed by this pest. I see the most damage in areas where the pine population is a monoculture. I wanted to highlight some of the characteristics of this pest so you maybe able to early detect an invasion and save your pines if this occurs.   The common southern pine bark beetles. Top to Bottom: Ips avulsus, Ips grandic... Read More

Oak trees can decline and die for various reasons. Hypoxylon canker is the focus of this article and is a common infection for stressed Oaks in the Memphis area. Although a secondary issue, hypoxylon canker infection normally means a tree is too far gone to save. Removal and replacement may be the best choice. Hypoxylon cankers Hypoxylon canker is common throughout the South on oaks and other hardwoods where it normally occurs on stressed hosts. The canker i... Read More

The last 2 months we have looked at what is a major killer of Pines and Oaks in the mid south. I thought it would be fitting to address the Elm species as well. It is important to mention that major pruning cuts on Elms should NOT be done during the spring and summer months as the Elm Bark Beetle is attracted to fresh wounds at this time. Late fall and winter is the best time to do major pruning on Elms in our area to decrease possible disease transmission. Introduction Dutch Elm Disease ha... Read More

There are many things you can do to encourage the health of your tree. There are also many things that you do that will kill your tree. In fact, the actions of tree owners probably result in more tree deaths than all insects and diseases combined. Many times, the action itself does not immediately kill a tree, but rather, sets in motion a chain of events that ultimately shortens the tree’s life. What are these actions? The following are the most prevalent ways to commit arboricide, dire... Read More

Bradford pears are a victim of their own vigorous growth. Every twig and limb seems convinced that it can head for the sky immediately after it sprouts. The result is many vertical branches crowded around the trunk, all reaching heavenward. Simple physics explains that the attachment of a vertical branch is weaker than one which extends at an angle more toward the horizontal. Though the upright oval form of this tree i... Read More

  One of the highlights of the holiday season is selecting and decorating a Christmas tree. With Thanksgiving falling late this year, there is less time to prepare for Christmas, so more folks will start shopping for that perfect tree this weekend. Even if you don't decorate the tree for a few weeks, it's better to buy early and place it in a bucket of water in a cool, shady area to keep i... Read More

Happy New Year! This month’s Tree Tip was written and researched by the newest member of the Woodland Tree sales team, Emil Peter, ISA Certified Arborist #SO-6363A and Forester. He may be contacted directly via email with any questions related to this article or for more information on pricing or to see if your tree is a good candidate for a lightning protection system. The holidays are winding down and everyone is thinking about the future. New Year’s resolut... Read More

This month’s Tree Tip was written and researched by the newest member of the Woodland Tree sales team, Britt Hubbard, ISA Certified Arborist #SO-5792A and Forester. He may be contacted directly via email with any questions concerning this article or any tree related issues. The past weekend’s winter storm blanketed much of the mid-south with over a quarter inch of ice. Ice can wreak havoc on trees. Ice accumulation can increase the weight of a tree by 30 times or more. ... Read More

We all love our trees and shrubs. They soften the landscape of our neighborhoods, green our city, and offer numerous aesthetic and environmental benefits. These benefits can easily be lost without proper care. Trees will succumb to the stresses of the harsh urban and suburban environment. Poor or compacted soil, limited root space, pollution, and competition with turf grass are just a few examples of the challenges trees face. These stresses weaken defense mechanisms and lead to poor growth r... Read More

Summer is on its way and this month’s Tree Tip was written and researched by the Director of Plant Health Care Services, Emil Peter, ISA Certified Arborist #SO-6363A and Forester. He or any of our Arborist PHC Specialists may be contacted directly via email with any questions related to this article or for more information on pricing or to come set up a Plant Health Care plan or disease management path for your landscape trees. Frequently we get calls about foliage prematurel... Read More

This month’s Tree Tip was written and researched by Britt Hubbard ISA Certified Arborist #SO-5792A and Forester.  He may be contacted directly via email with any questions concerning this article or any tree related issues. Do your plants have yellowing leaves, dead leaf margins, misshapen leaves, or dieback in the tips of stems?  While these issues can be the result of several causes, one possibility is nutrient deficiencies.  There are 16 elements essent... Read More

This month’s Tree Tip was researched and written by Emil Peter, ISA Certified Arborist #SO-6363A and Forester.  He may be contacted directly via email with any questions concerning this article or any tree related issues. Some of the most devastating tree pests we encounter are the boring insects. These are insects, much like their names suggest, that tunnel, or bore, under the bark or deep into the wood of trees. Some famous examples of borer damage in recent histo... Read More

This month’s Tree Tip was researched and written by Emil Peter, ISA Certified Arborist #SO-6363A and Forester.  He may be contacted directly via email with any questions concerning this article or any tree related issues. Ladies and gentlemen, it is indeed a sad day in the world of Tennessee Forestry, but a day we knew was going to happen at some point. Last week it was reported by the Tennessee Department of Agriculture that Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) had been di... Read More

This month’s Tree Tip was researched and written by Emil Peter, Director of Plant Health Care Services, ISA Certified Arborist #SO-6363A, and Forester for Woodland Tree Service.  He may be contacted directly via email with any questions concerning this article or any other tree related issues. Mulching and composting are two of the most beneficial and cost effective things a homeowner can do for the health of any tree. Mulches are materials placed on the soil surface to ... Read More

This month’s Tree Tip was written and researched by Britt Hubbard, ISA Certified Arborist #SO-5792A and Forester. He may be contacted directly via email with any questions concerning this article or any tree related issues. Tree removal is an inevitable reality for homeowners with trees on their property.  As trees age they can succumb to a host of stresses and diseases.  Eventually, trees lose structural integrity and need to be removed to prevent damage to people and proper... Read More

Spring storms often bring out the best in a community. Neighbors, even strangers, help each other cope with aggravations and property damage left in the wake of a storm. Unfortunately, storms also bring out the worst in a community – fast-buck arborists and fly by night tree services looking to profit from the misfortunes of others.  How can homeowners protect themselves when they need to hire a tree care co... Read More

This month’s Tree Tip was written and researched by our Director of Plant Health Care, Britt Hubbard, ISA Certified Arborist #SO-5792A. He may be contacted directly via email with any questions concerning this article or any tree related issues. Over the past few weeks our office has had several calls about caterpillars chewing up local oak trees.  Many of our clients have had small trees... Read More

There's nothing like a real Christmas tree in your home, but there are some things you need to remember as you enjoy it's beauty this holiday season. Trees That Are Cut When a Christmas tree is cut, over half of its weight is water. With proper care, you can maintain the quality of your displayed trees. Below are a number of tips relating to the care of displayed trees: ... Read More

This month’s Tree Tip was written and researched by Britt Hubbard, Director of Plant Health Care for Woodland Tree Service, and ISA Certified Arborist #SO-5792A. He may be contacted directly via email with any questions concerning this article or any tree related issues. Winter is considered a dormant season for trees and plants in our area. However, calling this the dormant season leads to a misconception about plants. Although leaves have fallen from many plants and gr... Read More

This month’s Tree Tip was written and researched by Chris Hudson, Plant Healthcare Specialist and Certified Pesticide Applicator. He may be contacted directly via email at chris@woodlandtree.com with any questions concerning this article or any plant health care issues regarding stress, insects, or disease. Powdery mildew is a fungus that can be commonly found on a large number of trees and shrubs in our area. However, dogwoods and crepe myrtles seem to be affected the most. ... Read More

This month's Tree Tip was written and researched by Britt Hubbard, Director of Plant Health Care and ISA Certified Arborist #SO-5792A. He may be contacted directly via email with any questions concerning this article or any tree related issues. Is your backyard oak starting to shade your swimming pool and deck? Are the street trees in your median looking stressed? Is your magnolia approaching utility lines? Are you looking to save a tree before construction begins on your prope... Read More

This month’s Tree Tip was written and researched by Tim Story, one of our ISA Certified Arborists. It’s hot, and no doubt about it, the extreme heat and lack of rain fall has been a subject that has gained global attention over last few months and rightfully so.  We are hearing more and more about the potential for wide spread damage to crops, livestock, and anything else that depends on Mother Nature’s gift of rain to survive.  I am fortunate in that I get to me... Read More